Here’s our guide for making the right choice for your home.

Windows or HVAC? When you’re looking to make energy improvements for your Denver-area home, these may be two things that come to mind. But what will provide you the most bang for your buck? Here’s a comparison of potential costs, facts on energy efficiency and homeowner satisfaction to help guide your decision:

Windows

Happiness Factor

42% of people replace their windows to improve energy efficiency while 42% are looking for better functionality and livability.

83% of homeowners want to stay home more after completing the project.

77% feel a major sense of accomplishment following installation.

Energy Efficiency

When it comes to energy efficiency, it’s important to know when your windows were manufactured. Windows manufactured before 1975 lack the energy efficiency of modern windows. The benefit of replacing for energy efficiency can be great when newer windows are installed in your home.

Windows represent a major source of heat loss in your home. Newer windows feature multiple panes, vinyl frames and low e-glass that help minimize heat loss, condensation, and air leakage, which means your home will be more comfortable even on super warm or super cold days.

Cost for New Windows

All-new vinyl windows for an average home (2,450 square feet) runs more upwards of $15,000 according to the Remodeling Impact Report. However, you can recoup almost 80% of the cost in added home value.

You’ll also see savings on your energy bill—up to 15% per year, according to the Efficient Windows Collaborative.

HVAC Systems

Happiness Factor

According to the 2017 Remodeling Impact Report:

56% of people replace their windows to improve energy efficiency while 42% are looking for better functionality and livability.

77% of homeowners want to stay home more after completing the project.

55% feel a major sense of accomplishment following installation.

Energy Efficiency

HVAC systems can last more than 20 years. But those that have been in operation for that long are generally less energy efficient than newer models. That’s important because heating and cooling your home accounts for more than 40% of your home’s energy bills.

Newer furnaces allow for better energy efficiency in your home by distributing air more evenly, cycling less frequently, and operating more reliably.

Older furnaces may also have holes or cracks that could cause carbon monoxide gas to enter your home.

Replacing your HVAC system may need to be paired with other home-improvement projects, such as adding insulation and a programmable thermostat and sealing leaks in your ductwork, to maximize energy efficiency.

Cost for New HVAC System

A new HVAC system for an average-sized home will cost around $10,000, according to the Remodeling Impact Report. However, you can recoup almost 67% of the cost in added home value.

You’ll also see savings on your energy bill—as much as 20% when you increase the energy efficiency of your furnace.

Our Recommendation:

If you can afford only one home improvement project in 2018, we recommend replacing your furnace, or installing a new heating system, especially if yours is more than 10 years old. You will pay less for the up-front replacement cost, recoup more than 65% of that if you sell your home, and save as much as 20% on your monthly bills.

Be sure to consult with a HVAC installer to determine the best furnace for your home. A professional can help determine the right-size unit, comparable ductwork, and the best fuel source for your home.

Remote offices and employees have changed the way we work and the technology we work with. While remote work and satellite offices open up a whole new talent pool, allow employees greater freedom, and boost employee morale, there are some negatives. The biggest issue we’ve seen with remote employees relates to security and the secure transfer of documents and data.

Your remote employees will require the same access to your data and software as those working in office, but this can open up a can of worms when it comes to protecting sensitive information related to your business.

This is where file server products come into play. FTP servers and Managed File Transfer (MFT) allow your employees to share documents and data freely, even when they’re not in the same location.

​FTP vs. MFT

FTP servers perform two main tasks: get and put. By this, we mean that you can put files on the FTP server or get files from the FTP server. The only caveat is that you want to be sure these are not sensitive documents, since FTP servers are known to be less secure. However, if you’re simply looking for a way to upload non-confidential reports or documents or permit your clients to download documents that don’t require heavy protection, then FTP can be a quick and cheap solution for your business.

​If you are dealing with confidential information or any documentation that falls under regulatory compliance, using an FTP server won’t be enough. Credit card data, medical records, or government documentation can all fall under a range of regulatory compliance, such as HIPAA or PCI. In this case, you will want the more robust and secure Managed File Transfer.

While you will see a considerable increase in price and implementation complexity, Managed File Transfer software offers a significantly more secure method of transferring files with other added benefits.

Benefits of MFT

Managed file transfer services provide advanced business needs when you have sensitive information that needs to be protected. MFT solutions do more than simply encrypt your files, they also offer support for secure protocols and the refusal of unsecure

connections, perimeter security, hacking detection with automated shutdown, support of security policies requiring complex and expiring passwords, and support and compliance of current regulations and privacy standards.

Beyond this impressive list of security protocols, MFT also offers a variety of automation, compliance, auditing capabilities and High Availability environments. You can also find many managed file transfer services that offer even more features, such as workflow, data loss prevention and more.

What this means for your remote employees

An MFT solution will allow your employees the security to work quickly and be comfortable in the knowledge that they are protected by the same rigorous standards as those applied to your in-office team. This will prevent any data loss or damaging data breaches that could negatively affect your company and put your customers and employees at risk.

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